Device for softening yarn bodies



April 10, 1956 K. P. WILLIAMS DEVICE FOR SOFTENING YARN BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1952 I N VENTOR KYLE P. WILLIAMS TTORNEY April 10, 1956 K. P. WILLIAMS DEVICE FOR SOFTENING YARN BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1952 INVENTOR KYLE P. WILLIAMS BY K MW J A? L; TORNEY April 10, 1956 K. P. WILLIAMS 2,741,010

DEVICE FOR SOF'TENING YARN BODIES Filed Feb. 14, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6.

1mm lllllllllllll I FIG. 7.

I N VENTOR KYLE P. WILLIAMS BY A 2 g f flmwm/ K. P. WILLIAMS 2,741,010

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR KYLE P. WILLIAMS W 5 g gT oRNEY April 10, 1956 DEVICE FOR SOFTENING YARN BODIES Filed Feb. 14, 1952 n ted States P e 2,741,010 DEVICE FOR SOFTENING YARN BODIES Kyle P. Williams, Johnson City, Tenn., assignor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 14,1952, Serial No. 271,484 '10 Claims. ((51. zIr-ss This invention relates to improvements in devices for softening cakes, cheeses, or the like, of rayon or other textile threads.

The invention relates particularly to an improved'device for mechanically kneading or working wet cakes, cheeses, or the like, of rayon or other textile threads.

Heretofore in the manufacture of rayon yarn, after the cakes or similar packages of rayon yarn or thread were subjected to wet treatment and processed in a centrifugal extractor to remove as much moisture as possible, the packages usually became highly compacted. It therefore-became desirable to mechanically work the rayon cakes to soften or loosen the thread structure thereof in order that moisture might be more readily expelled from the cakes during the drying operation. This was necessary so that the thread would have an opportunity to shrink more freely and more uniformly during the drying operation, and also so that the thread could later be wound off more smoothly.

I Furthermore, if the cakes have been flattened for the wet treatment, it is desirable that the rnechancial Working or kneading be adapted also to substantially reduce the wrinkles which tend to form on the insides of the flattened cakes in order to facilitate the smooth winding off of the thread in this portion of the package.

Devices ofvarious types have been proposed for softening or loosening up the thread structure of cakes or similar packages of rayon or other textile threads. Those devices that involve mechanical working while the cakes are immersed in water are not suited for softening yarn packages which have been centrifuged in preparation for the final step of the drying operation. Furthermore, those devices that soften or loosen up the thread structure of the cake by stretching the yarn or thread may cause damage to the yarn. The devices that are adapted to beat the cake or package by means of members of various types may damage rayon or other delicate threads.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved device for softening or loosening the thread structure of cakes or similar packages of rayon or other textile threads by means of the kneading action of a ro tating blade and roller upon which the thread package is placed. 1

A further object of this invention isto provide an improved device for softening ,of cakes of rayon whichis provided with rotatable members one of which may be moved so as to decrease the distance between them when the yarn cakes or packages are to be placed over or removed fromthem, and so asto increase the distance between them when it is desiredto have them knead the yarn cakes or packages.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device'for softening rayon cakes, said device being provided with an adjustable roller and a switch that is actuated when this'roller is moved so as to start the motor which rotates a flat blade in such manner as to 'ice Other and further objects of this invention will "be apparent to those skilled ,in the-art to which it relates from the following -specification,iclairns and drawings in which briefly; r

Fig. 1 is a view in side'elevation of an embodiment of this invention with portions of the blade and roller broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary "sectional view of theroller 'of the device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view 'along'the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, of one of the clutches employed in this invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5 5 of-Fig. 1 illustrating the kneading action of this apparatus on a yarn package;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the device;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line --"i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 isv a side view of a modified form of roller unit employed in this invention; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 5 in which the modified roller unit shown in Fig. 9 is employed.

The cake softening device, shown generally in Figs. 1

i and 2 of the drawings, is provided with a mount rotate andknead the cakes carried by this blade and the roller.

which the speed reduction gearing 2 and electric motor 3 are sup'ported. Rotatable shafts 5 that are geared to the electric motor 3 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the gear housing. One element 6a of each ofthe clutches 6, which are illustrated in detail in Fig. 4, is

attached to the ends of the shafts 5. The other elements 612 or the clutches 6 are attached to the shafts 7 which are journaled in the bearings 8" Generally flat blades 9 are attached to shafts 7 by welding or other {suitable means and these blades extend outwardly from said snares in a horizontal plane. The fiat blades 9 are thus adapted to be rotated by electric motor 3 acting through gearing 2-, shafts 5, clutcheso and shafts 7. V p

The clutch Unit 6 is' Shown in detail in 4 Which is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Fig 1 in this View the clutch element 6!: is shown positioned on the end of the shaft 5 and a set screw 52: is provided for holding this element fixed on this shaft. The clutch element 6b is shown positioned on the end of the shaft '7 and a setsc'rew 7a "is employed for the purpose of holding this element fixed on this shaft. The element '55 is provided with a hole in which is lodged a ring-shaped member 60 which is adapted to receive the end of ate plunger 6d. This plunger is supported in the tubular member 6e, one end of which is threaded into a hole formed in the clutch element 612. The small rod 6}, is

attached to the inner end of the plunger 6a, and this rod is partially surrounded by a spring 63 which is posif tioned in the tubular member 6e between the inner face of the plunger 6d and the inner face of the bearing member 611. The bearing member 6h is provided with a hole for'slidably'receiving the rod 6) and a knob iii is attached "to the outer end of this rod' so that the operator by gripping this knob may pull the plunger oil out of engagement with the ring-shaped member 60. Aft'er the rod 6 is withdrawn a sufficient distance so that the pin 6k carried by the rod 6 is outof the slot 6) formed in the thread bearing member 6h, the knob 6i maybe given a slight twist so that the pin 6k engages the outer face of the bearing 6h to prevent the spring 63 from forcing the plunger 6d back into the ring-shaped member 60. In this waythe clutch G is disengaged and the clutch eIeF rnent be r tatedi by the motor 3 without transmitting rotary motion to the cl utch element 6b. Thus,

either one or both of the flat blades 9 of this apparatus may be driven or allowed to idle as desired.

The bearings 8 are supported by the upright member 10, the bottom ends of which are attached by welding to the horizontal plates 11 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Levers 12, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, are provided with U-shaped members 13 that are pivotally attached at one end by means of bolts 14 to the upright members 10 generally below the bearings 8. Freely rotatable rollers 15, shown in detail in Fig. 3 are mounted on the U-shaped members 13 by fixed shafts 16 so that the roller units 15 are disposed generally below and substantially parallel withflat blades 9.

The freely rotatable roller units 15 each consist of two end plates 17 and 18 that enclose the ball bearing units 19 and 20 respectively, which support the roller unit 15 on the shaft 16. The plate 18 is made with a recess that is adapted to receive the bearing 20 and fit around the outer race of this hearing. The inner race of the bearing 20 is made to fit around the fixed shaft 16. The plate 18 is provided with three holes that are spaced 120 degrees apart and these holes receive the ends of reduced diameters of the rods 21. The other plate 17 is also provided with three corresponding holes to receive the screws 17:: which are threaded into ends of the rods 21. These screws also hold the end member 17b assembled with the plate 17. The outer surface of the member 17b is rounded E to facilitate placing the textile cakes thereon. The plate 17 is provided with a hole that is adapted to receive the ball bearing unit 19 and fit over the outer race thereof. The inner race of this bearing unit is fitted to the end of reduced diameter of the supporting shaft 16 and is held thereon by the screw 170 which is threaded into the end of this shaft. The three rods 21 are attached to the plates 17 and 18, 120 degrees apart to give a triangular structure to the roller unit 15 as shown in Fig. 5. This triangular roller unit is positioned on shaft 16 as shown in Fig. 3 and it is provided with the ball bearings 19 and 20 to permit it to rotate freely on the shaft 16 generally below and substantially parallel with flat blade 9 as shown in Fig. 1. A reinforcing ring 22 may also be welded to the central portions of the rods 21 if desired.

Each of the levers 12 is provided with a pair of locking pawls 23 and 24 which are manipulated by an L-shaped pawl lifting handle 25 pivotally mounted at one end to the lever. For this purpose the pawl lifting wire 26 is attached at one end to the bar 27 connecting the pawls 23 and 24 and at the other end to the corner of the L- shaped pawl lifting handle 25. When locking pawl 23 engages the top of the tooth 28 of the member 29 that is supported by the plate 30, as shown in Fig. 7, the lever 12 is held elevated so that roller unit 15 is generally adjacent to the flat blade 9 as shown in Fig. 6. The roller unit 15 being close to the fiat blade 9, the apparatus is in condition for the placing of cakes of rayon to be kneaded upon these members.

When pawl lifting handle 25 is caused to move toward lever 12, the movement of said pawl lifting handle, acting through pawl lifting wire 26, caused the locking pawl 23 to be withdrawn from contact with the top of the tooth 28 and the lever 12 and roller unit 15 mounted thereon are free to move in a generally downward direction. When the lever 12 is moved downward to the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 6, the rayon cakes positioned on the blade 9 and roller unit 15 are subjected'to a gentle streching action. When this lever 12 is in this downward position the pawl 24 catches on the under side of the tooth 31 shown in Fig. 8. This tooth 31 is supported by the member 32 on the plate 30 along side of the member 29 which is also supported by the plate 30 between the upright members 10. The purpose of the pawl 24 and the tooth 31 is to lock the lever 12 and roller unit 15 so that this lever and roller unit will not bob up and down when the machine is operated and 4 the rayon cakes are rolled over the roller unit 15 an rotating blade 9.

The lever 12 is provided with a small plate 35 attached thereto and is adapted to actuate a micro switch 34 that is supported by one of the upright members 10 so that electric motor 3 is caused to rotate when lever 12 is in the lowermost position. The circuit of this switch is opened when the lever is moved upwardly after the pawl 24 is withdrawn from engagement with the bottom of the tooth 31 by manipulating the handle 25.

In the operation of this machine the lever 12 is raised so as to cause the roller unit 15 to approach fiat blade 9. In this position of the lever the locking pawl 23 rests on the top of the tooth 28 and the device is ready to be loaded which is accomplished by placing a plurality of cakes of rayon yarn or similar packages of textile thread over fiat blade 9 and the roller unit 15.

When the device is thus loaded the L-shaped pawl lifting handle 25 is pressed toward lever 12 causing locking pawl 23 to become disengaged from the tooth 28 and permitting lever 12 and the roller unit 15 to move in a generally downward direction, the extent of said downward movement being limited by the yarn packages 33 placed over the roller unit 15 and flat blade 9. The lever 12 is locked in its lower position by the pawl 24 and tooth 31 as described above.

The previously mentioned micro switch 34 is closed when the lever 12 is in its lower position and the electric motor 3 is thus conected to a source of power. The motor is energized and rotates the blade 9. Rotation of this blade exerts a kneading action on said cakes 33 as is shown in Fig. 5. The rotation of the rayon cakes causes the freely rotatable roller unit 15 to rotate and to exert a further kneading action on the cakes. The effect of these kneading actions is to soften the cake structure and to work out any wrinkles formed on the insides of the cakes without damaging the yarn or thread.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there is illustrated a roller unit in which six rods 36 areemployed instead of the three rods 21 as shown in Fig. 3. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the rods 36 may be welded to the end members 36a and 36b spaced equally around these members. These members are fitted around ball bearing units supported by the shaft 16 the same as in the case of the roller unit 15 shown in Fig. 3, however, the unit shown in Fig. 9 may be provided also with a rounded off knob such as the knob 17b shown in Fig. 3 although the end plate 36b itself may serve the purpose of this knob.

After the cakes have been worked sufficiently the lever 12 is unlocked and raised, causing the micro switch to open and stop the motor 3 and the rotation of the flat blade 9. The lever 12 is raised until the pawl 23 rests on the tooth 28. The rayon cakes may be removed from the device and taken away for further processing and the cycle repeated with other rayon cakes.

In this apparatus two cake kneading units are provided to be driven by one motor as shown in Fig. l and an operator may unload or load one unit by disengaging one of the clutches 6 while the other unit is operating to soften a batch of rayon cakes. With this dual arrangement the motor 3 is connected as long as one of the handles 12 is in the lower position to close the switch 34 associated therewith. In this dual arrangement the operator may disengage the clutch 6 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 by pulling out the pin 6i when it is desired to stop the corresponding rotatable blade 9 and the motor may be left running so as to drive the other blade 9 through its corresponding clutch 6 so long as the handle or lever 12 thereof is in the lower position.

Other modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact detailed structure described and illustrated except as defined by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for softening wound packages of textile ta tra;

portingsaid flatbladeoriits, axisfa lever, a pair of memshaft supported :by said lever,: a .freely rotatable roller supported bysaid shaft and adapted to bemoved parallel relative to said flat. blade by said lever about said pivot, said blade arid's'ald'rollr, whendispbsedadjacentto one another, being planted ts. ss vars ad.hql o packages of thread, means for rotating said fiat blade to impart rotary motion tosaid 'woundpacka'g'esfof thread and to said roller;whensaid'blade' and'sa froller are disposed span from each" other to'the "extent permitted by said wound packages 'of threadwvhereby said wound packages of thread are rotated andsubjcted to a kneading action, a tooth supported adjacentto the pivoted end of saidleve'i'aiid a niaiiiiallyretractable catch supported by said lever for engaging said tooth for holding said lever and said roller positioned adjacent to said blade while the wound packages of thread are being placed on said blade and said roller. 7

2. A device for softening wound packages of textile thread comprising a flat blade, bearings for rotatably supporting said fiat blade on its axis, a lever, a pair of upright members for supporting said bearings, a pivot for said lever supported by said members adjacent to said bearings, a shaft supported by said lever, a freely rotatable roller supported by said shaft and adapted to be moved parallel relative to said flat blade by said lever about said pivot, said blade and said roller, when disposed adjacent to one another, being adapted to receive wound hollow packages of thread, means for rotating said flat blade to impart rotary motion tosaid wound-packages of thread and to said roller, whensaid blade and said roller are disposed apart fromeach other to the extent" permitted by said wound packages of thread whereby said wound packages of thread are rotated and subjected to a kneading action, said last mentioned'rneans including a shaft fsupported bysaid lever; a, freely rotatable roller supported by 'saidshaft and adapted to be moved parallel relative tosaid flat blade by said'lever about said pivot,

said blade and saidrollei', when disposed adjacent -tolone 5 I another, being adapted to receive wound hollowpackages of ,thread;,majns forrotating said flat blade to impart rotary motion, to, said, ound packages of threadand to saidroller, whenfsaid blade and said roller are disposed apart from each othertothe extent permitted by said wound packages of thread whereby said wound packages of thread are rotatedand'subje'ctedto a kneading action, said freely I rotatable roller comprising a pair of end members, bearings positioned-in each of said end memhere" for supporting'said; end members on said shaftand a plurality of bars supported between said end members,

said bars being disposed so thattheysubstantially en;-

circle said shaft so that the wound packages of thread positioned on said roller engage these bars but do not contact said shaft.

5. A device for softening wound, hollow packages of textile threads comprising a horizontal fiat elongated blade, said flat blade having a width equal to several times its thickness, bearing means for said horizontal fiat blade, a horizontal freely rotatable roller disposed parallel to said blade, means for moving said roller relatively close to said blade so that hollow packages of textile thread to be kneaded may be made to straddle said roller and said blade, said last mentioned means including means for moving said roller away from said blade at fixed distance so that said hollow packages that straddle said roller and said blade are each given a skein shape and snugly engage said blade and said roller, and means for rotating said fiat blade so that said fiat blade because of its fiat configuration alternately lengthens and expands said skein shaped packages as they are rotated around said fiat blade and said roller.

tooth supported adjacent to the pivoted'end of said lever, J

a manually retractable catch supported by said leverfor I engaging said tooth for holding said'lever and said roller positioned adjacent to said blade while the-wound packages of thread are being placed on said blade and said roller, a second tooth supported adjacent to said lever and a second manually operated catch for engaging said second tooth for holding said roller spaced from said blade when said packages of thread are positioned on said blade and said roller and are being subjected to the kneading.

3. A device for softening wound packages of textile thread comprising a flat blade, bearings for rotatably supporting said flat blade on its axis, a lever, a pair of upright members for supporting said bearings, a pivot for said lever supported by said members adjacent to said bearings, a shaft supported by said lever, a freely rotatable roller supported by said shaft and adapted to be moved parallel relative to said flat blade by said lever about said pivot, said blade and said roller, when disposed adjacent to one another, being adapted to receive wound hollow packages of thread, means for rotating said flat blade to impart rotary motion to said wound packages of thread and to said roller, when said blade and said roller are disposed apart from each other to the extent permitted by said wound packages of thread whereby said wound packages of thread are rotated and subjected to a kneading action, said last mentioned means including an electric motor for rotating said fiat blade, a normally open electric switch connected for controlling the circuit to said electric motor, said electric switch being supported by one of said upright members and means supported by said lever for closing said switch when said lever is in its down position to connect said motor to a source of power.

4. A device for softening wound packages of textile thread comprising a flat blade, bearings for rotatably supporting said flat blade on its axis, a lever, a pair of members for supporting said bearings, a pivot for said lever 6'. A device for softening wound, hollow packages of textile threads comprising a horizontal fiat elongated blade, said flatblade having a width equal to several times its thickness, a device adapted to rotate said horizontal flat blade on its axis, a horizontal freely rotatable polygonal roller disposed parallel to said blade, means for 1 moving said roller relatively close to said blade so that hollow packages of textile thread to be kneaded may be made to straddle said roller and said blade, said roller" being adapted to be moved away from said blade so that said hollow packages that straddle said roller and said blade are each given a skein shape snugly engaging said blade and said roller, and means for rotating said flat blade so that said flat blade because of its flat configuration alternately lengthens and expands said skein shaped packages as they are rotated around said flat blade and said roller. 7

7. A device for softening wound, hollow packages of textile threads comprising a horizontal flat elongated blade, bearing means for said horizontal flat blade, a horizontal shaft, a roller supported by said shaft parallel to said blade, a pair of spaced upright members for supporting said bearings, a lever pivoted to said upright members spaced from said bearings, means for supporting said shaft on said lever so that said roller may be moved by said lever relatively close to said blade. and hollow packages of textile thread to be kneaded may be made to straddle said roller and said blade, said roller being adapted to be moved away from said blade by said lever so that said hollow packages that straddle said roller and said blade are each given a skein shape and snugly engage said blade and said roller, and means for rotating said fiat blade so that said fiat blade alternately lengthens and expands said skein shaped packages as they are rotated around said flat blade and said roller.

8. A device for softening wound, hollow packages of textile threads comprising a horizontal flat elongated blade, means for supporting said horizontal flat blade, a horizontal roller disposed parallel to said blade, said roller comprising a pair of spaced bearings, means for supporting said bearings and a plurality of bars positioned between said bearings to define the cornersof an elongated polygonal figure formed by said bars, said bars being adapted to rotate on said bearings, means for moving said roller relatively close to said blade so that hollow packages of textile thread to be kneaded may be made to straddle said roller and said blade, said roller being adapted to be moved away from said blade so that said hollow packages that straddle said roller and said blade are each given a skein shape and snugly engage said blade and selected bars of said roller, and means for rotating said flat blade so that said flat blade alternately lengthens and expands said skein shaped packages as they are totated around said flat blade and the bars of said roller.

9. A device as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a clutch connected to control the rotation of said fiat blade, said clutch including a pin which may be partially withdrawn therefrom when it is desired to stop the rotation of said flat blade.

I 10. A device as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a clutch connected to control the rotation of said flat blade, said clutch including a pin which may be partially withdrawn therefrom when it is desired to stop the rotation of said flat blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 972,060 Clavel Oct. 4, 1910 1,638,843 Gerber Aug. 16, 1927 1,658,357 Schafer Feb. 7, 1928 1,779,021 Taschner Oct. 21, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,518 Great Britain of 1898 

1. A DEVICE FOR SOFTENING WOUND PACKAGES OF TEXTILE THREAD COMPRISING A FLAT BLADE, BEARINGS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID FLAT BLADE ON ITS AXIS, A LEVER, A PAIR OF MEMBERS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BEARINGS, A PIVOT FOR SAID LEVER SUPPORTED BY SAID MEMBERS ADJACENT TO SAID BEARINGS, A SHAFT SUPPORTED BY SAID LEVER, A FREELY ROTATABLE ROLLER SUPPORTED BY SAID SHAFT AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVED PARALLEL RELATIVE TO SAID FLAT BLADE BY SAID LEVER ABOUT SAID PIVOT, SAID BLADE AND SAID ROLLER, WHEN DISPOSED ADJACENT TO ONE ANOTHER, BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE WOUND HOLLOW PACKAGES OF THREAD, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FLAT BLADE TO IMPART ROTARY MOTION TO SAID WOUND PACKAGES OF THREAD AND TO SAID ROLLER, WHEN SAID BLADE AND SAID ROLLER ARE DISPOSED APART FROM EACH OTHER TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY SAID WOUND PACKAGES OF THREAD WHEREBY SAID WOUND PACKAGES OF THREAD ARE ROTATED AND SUBJECTED TO A KNEADING ACTION, A TOOTH SUPPORTED ADJACENT TO THE PIVOTED END OF SAID LEVER AND A MANUALLY RETRACTALBE CATCH SUPPORTED BY SAID LEVER FOR ENGAGING SAID TOOTH FOR HOLDING SAID LEVER AND SAID ROLLER POSITIONED ADJACENT TO SAID BLADE WHILE THE WOUND PACKAGES OF THREAD ARE BEING PLACED ON SAID BLADE AND SAID ROLLER. 